It may be early days but Singapore trainer Michael Freedman may have another ‘super’ horse set to grace his stables with the Pencarrow bred two-year-old Super Junior now unbeaten in three Singapore trials.

Owned and raced by the Joy N Happiness Stable who race Singapore’s best three-year-old Super Easy (Darci Brahma), Super Junior is also by Darci Brahma (ex Summary) and is turning heads in Singapore before he has even hit the track.

Super Junior’s latest trial victory came on Monday 17 August where he gave his rivals a galloping lesson under champion jockey Joao Moreira, taking the lead 300 metres from home and racing away to a six-and-a-half length win.

The two-year-old’s first two trials saw the son of Darci Brahma produce good performances but Freedman’s decision to put blinkers on for his latest trial has seen the colt take a big step up.

“No doubt he (Super Junior) is a nice horse but I think he will learn more about racing with more experience under his belt,” commented Freedman.

“I think he will be a better horse for the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge next year.”

Super Junior

Bred at Pencarrow Stud, Super Junior was purchased by his trainer Michael Freedman from Pencarrow Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2011 Karaka Premier Sale for $100,000.

Freedman had purchased a colt by Darci Brahma at Karaka the year before, the now superstar three-year-old Super Easy, for clients Andre Lim and Hong Ying Kwee, the two partners of the Joy N Happiness Stable, who asked him to look out for any Darci Brahmas at the 2011 Karaka Yearling Sales.

“At the time, we already had an idea how good Super Easy was,” recalled Freedman. The owners only told me it would be nice if we could buy another yearling by Darci Brahma.”

“I spoke with my bloodstock agent Michael Wallace and he shortlisted a selection of half a dozen at the 2011 Karaka Yearling Sales and we settled for this one.

“He was bred by a good friend of mine, Peter Vela of Pencarrow Stud. I also liked his dam Summary who is by Golden Slipper winner Tierce and has a nice pedigree.

“I told the owners I thought he was a slow developing sort when we bought him and we should leave him in New Zealand a bit longer to let him mature further.

“He however has a lovely temperament and that to me is one of the qualities of a good horse.”

A well-bred colt, Super Junior is a half-brother to the triple Group 2 winning mare Shikoba (Chief Bearhart) who was the 2006 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year. His dam Summary is a half-sister to the stakes winner Cloister (Marauding) who is the dam of the dual Group 1 winning sprinter Melito (Redoute's Choice). Summary has a weanling colt at foot by the Group 1 winning sprinter Sakhee's Secret.

Super Junior has big shoes to fill with his superstar stable mate Super Easy unbeaten in 11 Singapore starts, five of which have been at Singapore Group level.

Super Easy has been a leading performer for his sire Darci Brahma who was bred by Peter and Philip Vela and has had a very good season at stud. With his oldest progeny three-year-olds, the current season has also seen him sire Group 1 New Zealand Oaks winner Artistic, Group 3 Manawatu Classic winner Malandrino, Group 3 Spring Stakes winner Darci Be Good, Group 1 placed Our Miss Jones, Group placed Westsouthwest, Nashville and Micken and stakes placed Waterford, Vincent Street and About The Journey.

Standing at the Oaks Stud, Darci Brahma is the leading sire for 3YO winners in New Zealand with 23, four clear of his nearest rival O'Reilly, and is fully booked for the 2012 season.